Telephone identification calling apparatus and procedures

ABSTRACT

Method for improving the calling procedures of telephones by creating customized messages for telephones coupled to a telephone exchange. The messages are registered on one or more sections of memory located in the telephone exchange and coupled to the telephone. The messages can be played over a boosted loudspeaker or the earphone of the telephone. When the telephone is switched on, but is not in communication with another telephone, the ring loudspeaker, if any, and the earphone loudspeaker are deactivated, and the boosted loudspeaker is activated. When a caller telephone receives a call from a caller telephone the activated boosted loudspeaker plays the chosen registered and optionally other messages. When the caller and the called telephone are hooked up, the boosted loudspeaker is deactivated, the earphone loudspeaker is activated and, thereby, placing the caller telephone in communication with said called telephone in the normal way.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to improvements in telephones, particularly butnot exclusively cellular telephones and, more specifically, to a methodand apparatus for permitting cellular telephones to be called by meansof a customized call message in place of or in addition to the standardcall ring, as desired by the cellular telephone owner. Furthermore, thisinvention relates to a method and apparatus for recognizing callingsubscribers by means of a customized list and for being recognized byreceiving subscribers by means of a customized outgoing message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellular telephones are often used in public places, and several suchphones may be present within a limited space, such as a restaurant, abus or railway station, a waiting room of any kind, and so forth. As aresult, it often occurs that ,several cellular telephones ringconcurrently, and it is not always immediately clear from which one thering issues, so that several persons pick up their phone and operate itin the expectation of hearing a message. This creates a degree ofconfusion and sometimes some embarrassment. In standard, non cellulartelephones too the regular call ring may sometimes prove unsatisfactory.Though its intensity may be controlled to a certain degree, it may stillprove to be a disagreeable sound and disturb sleeping children or sickpersons.

Another problem a telephone user has to face is the uncertaintyregarding the identity of the caller. Some methods that allow afiltering of incoming calls are already available. Such methods includethe possibility of having the name of the caller appearing on thetelephone display provided that the caller belongs to a list preparedand programmed by the receiving subscriber into his telephone. Still,these methods are inconvenient because they require the user to checkthe display with each new call. In addition, said methods do not providea solution for the identification of unlisted or unknown callers.

It would be therefore highly desirable, and it is a purpose of thisinvention, to provide a system for assigning to each telephone, inparticular, but not exclusively, a cellular telephone, an acoustic callof its own, in place of or in addition to, the standard ring.

It is another purpose of this invention to provide a system whichpermits each telephone owner and user—hereinafter, “the subscriber”—tocreate, his customized call message (hereinafter, briefly, CCM), whetherit be a sound, bars of music, a name, a message, and any other callchosen by the subscriber.

It is a further purpose of this invention to provide such a system thatdoes not require extensive and costly modification of the telephone, inparticular the cellular telephone, itself, nor significant complicationsin its relationship with the telephone company and exchange with whichthe telephone is connected.

It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide such a systemthat allows the receiving subscriber to prepare a call signal whichidentifies a specific calling subscriber (Identified CallingSignal—hereinafter, briefly, ICS) and to prepare a list of ICS for alarge number of calling subscribers to be actuated in place of or inaddition to, the standard ring when said subscribers call the receivingsubscriber.

It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide such a systemthat allows a calling subscriber to prepare a Self-Identifying OutgoingMessage (hereinafter, briefly, SIOM) which identifies the callingsubscriber to any receiving subscriber, provided that the latter has atelephone equipped with the apparatus described in this application.

It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide such a systemthat allows a calling subscriber to prepare a Outgoing InformationService Message (hereinafter, briefly, OISM) which transmits usefulinformation to any receiving subscriber, provided that the latter has atelephone equipped with the apparatus described in this application.

It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide such a systemwhich may be implemented without modifying the telephone apparatusitself by adding to the telephone apparatus an add-on device which,combined with the telephone apparatus itself and the telephone exchangeresources, allow the creation of a CCM, ICS, SIOM, OISM and othermessages and/or other services.

It is a still further purpose of this invention to provide such a systemwhich may be implemented using a combination of the telephone resourceswith the memory available in the telephone exchange or by adding to thetelephone an electronic component which replaces the function of thetelephone exchange memory.

It is a further purpose of this invention to provide such a system whichis easy to use and actually requires no operations other than those towhich a subscriber is already accustomed.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

In order for the invention to be well understood, certain preliminaryobservations are in order.

Hereinafter, the terms “caller” and “receiver” will respectivelyindicate the apparatus which sends a call and the apparatus whichreceives it. Persons using them will be called respectively “the callingsubscriber” and “the receiving subscriber”. Reference will always bemade hereinafter, for purposes of illustration, to cellular telephones,but it should always be understood that this is not a limitation, sincethe invention is equally applicable to standard, non-cellulartelephones. In any case, even when the receiver is a cellular telephoneapparatus, the caller may always be any kind of telephone apparatus.

In a normal operation of telephones, when a caller requests thetelephone exchange to place it into a connection with a receiver, havinga certain number, the exchange sends out a signal at the frequencyassigned to the particular receiver—hereinafter called “a dialsignal”—which activates a ring in the receiver. Typically, the ring isproduced by a loudspeaker—hereinafter “the ring loudspeaker”—driven byan oscillating circuit. This circuit is normally open, and the call fromthe station—which may merely generate a pulse—causes it to be closed.The same call, generally, causes a display to be lighted on thereceiver. Concurrently, the exchange sends to the caller an intermittentring, corresponding to that which is emitted by the receiver ringloudspeaker. If the receiving subscriber is ready to receive the call,he performs what will be called “a hookup procedure”, which will permita caller to establish contact with the receiver. This is generally done,in cellular telephones, by pressing a button or by lifting a cover whichprotects the keyboard or in similar ways, or, if the receiver is astandard apparatus, by lifting the earpiece. As soon as the hookupprocedure has been performed, the ring is discontinued, the circuit ofthe ring loudspeaker being once again open, and the exchange places thecaller in communication with the receiver for carrying out the desiredconversation. During the conversation, a second loudspeaker—hereinafter“the earphone loudspeaker” —much less powerful than the first-mentionedone, so that it has to be placed close to the ear clearly to distinguishthe sounds emitted by it, permits the receiving subscriber to hear themessage of the calling subscriber. If the receiver is not switched on,the exchange communicates to the caller, after a given number of rings,that the receiver is not available for communication. Cellulartelephones are provided with a power source generally in the form of abattery (though the telephone may also be connectable to an outsidepower source, such as a car battery, or to a power line), and theycomprise a controller, essentially a microcircuit, which controls theiroperations.

It must further be recalled that modern telephone exchanges have anumber of what may be called “memory cells”, one for each subscriber,wherein messages may be registered from a caller when the receiver isnot available for communication, or communication is not requested. Anysubscriber can hear the messages destined for him by dialing a certaincode, consisting in a number or a key or combination of keys, whichautomatically places him into communication with the memory cellassigned to him, which is then actuated by the telephone exchange,through suitable computer means, to transmit the recorded message as ifit were an incoming call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Keeping the above facts in mind, the system according to the inventioncomprises providing, first of all, in the telephone, particularly thecellular telephone, what will be called hereinafter a “boostedloudspeaker”, viz. loudspeaker means that are more powerful than thestandard earphone loudspeaker, so that it emits sounds loud enough to beheard in the environment without placing it near the ear. The boostedloudspeaker may be an additional loudspeaker, or the earphoneloudspeaker itself, driven, when required, by what will be called a“booster circuit”, viz. an additional circuit which delivers more powerthan the standard one. In non cellular apparatus such boostedloudspeakers are generally provided anyway and are used in telephones topermit to conduct conversations without lifting the earpiece; however,they must be actuated by the subscribers for this purpose. In any case,switch means, practically transistor means, is provided to switch fromthe boosted loudspeaker and the earphone loudspeaker, and from both saidloudspeakers to the ring loudspeaker, if present, and vice versa, as thecase may be.

Means are provided in the telephones according to the invention for thedial call, which is emitted by the telephone exchange when calling thetelephone as a receiver, to actuate the boosted loudspeaker instead ofthe ring loudspeaker. By “telephone exchange” is meant herein theexchange with which the cellular telephone in question is connected. Thetelephone exchange transmits with the dial call what will be called “acustomized call message” (hereinafter, briefly, CCM), that isregistered, as will be explained hereinafter, in the memory cellassigned to the particular cellular telephone. The customized callmessage—be it a sound code or a few bars of music or a spoken message—isheard through the boosted loudspeaker in the environment in which thereceiver is located.

When the receiving subscriber carries out the hookup procedure, theboosted loudspeaker is disactivated, the earphone loudspeaker isactivated, and the receiver is ready to carry out a conversation in anormal way. If the boosted loudspeaker is the earphone loudspeakeritself driven by a booster circuit, the earphone loudspeaker isdisconnected from the booster circuit and connected to its ordinary lowpower circuit. Concurrently, the telephone exchange discontinues thecommunication of the memory cell with the receiver and places the callerin communication with the receiver in the ordinary way.

Since the boosted loudspeaker draws from the telephone power source morepower than the ring loudspeaker, it is desirable, at least in cellulartelephones in which the power source is a battery, that it operate foras short a time as possible. Therefore, in an embodiment of theinvention means are provided for discontinuing the customized callmessage and returning to the normal call ring if, after a predeterminedshort time, the hookup procedure has not been performed. Said means areessentially switch means which switch off the boosted loudspeaker andswitch on the ring loudspeaker. In a further embodiment of theinvention, said switch means may be actuated by the subscriber, or otherswitch means may be provided, to keep the boosted loudspeaker switchedoff and the ring loudspeaker switched on, so that the telephone behavesin a conventional manner, for as long a period of time as the subscriberdesires.

In a first embodiment of the invention, when a subscriber wishes tocreate a customized call message (CCM) or change an existing customizedcall message, he activates his telephone, dials a predetermined code—anumber or a key or a combination of keys -and thus establishescommunication with the telephone exchange. When that particular dialingoccurs, the telephone exchange places the calling cellular telephone—bymeans already present for the registration of messages—in communicationwith the memory cell assigned to it and actuates registration means inthe memory cell to register sounds or a words which the calling cellulartelephone sends. These are registered in a particular section of saidmemory cell as a customized call message, to be sent as hereinbeforedescribed when another telephone calls.

In the phones according to the invention, the ring loudspeaker may bemissing, but preferably is present and may be disactivated for anylength of time by the subscriber by operating a switch or may beautomatically and temporarily disactivated by the same means thatdisactivate the earphone loudspeaker, as hereinafter more fullyexplained.

In a second embodiment of the invention, a receiving subscriber, inaddition to the CCM described in the previous embodiment, creates anIdentified Calling Signal (hereinafter, briefly, ICS), for each callingsubscriber whom he wishes to identify when he is called by saidsubscriber. Ultimately, a list of ICS is created. In the same way inwhich a CCM is created, the creation of a ICS takes place by accessing adedicated segment of the exchange memory cell by dialing a code whichgrants access to the ICS service. Then, the telephone number of thecalling subscriber that is to be identified, is associated with anaudible message created by the receiving subscriber. This is done byinputting the number and the message according to a predeterminedroutine actuated by the telephone exchange when the receiving subscriberaccesses the ICS service.

Unlike for the CCM, which is unique at any given time, a large number ofICS may be stored at any given time. Each ICS may be replaced inoverwrite mode.

When a calling subscriber, whose telephone number is listed in thereceiving subscriber ICS list, calls the receiving subscriber, the ICSidentifying the calling subscriber is sent to the calling subscriberusing the same method described in the first embodiment.

In a third embodiment of the invention, a calling subscriber creates aSelf-Identifying Outgoing Message (hereinafter, briefly, SIOM) whichidentifies him to the receiving subscriber, even if he is unknown tohim, provided that the receiving subscriber is equipped with anapparatus as described in anyone of the embodiments in this application,and provided that the receiving subscriber has enabled in his telephonethe option to receive a SIOM.

As for a CCM or the ICS, the creation or editing of the SIOM takes placeby accessing a dedicated segment of the exchange memory cell by dialinga code which grants access to the SIOM service and by recording the SIOMin said segment.

When the calling subscriber calls the receiving subscriber, thetelephone exchange of said calling subscriber transmits to the exchangeof the receiving subscriber the SIOM of the calling subscriber. Then,the SIOM is sent to the receiving subscriber as if it were a CCM or aICS. Of course the process is substantially the same in the case thatthe calling and receiving subscriber happen to be serviced by the sameexchange.

In a particular variation of this embodiment, the SIOM may be created bythe telephone service provider to which the telephone owner issubscribed. In this case the service provider itself creates the SIOMand places and stores it in the telephone exchange by which thesubscriber is served.

The creation of the SIOM by the telephone provider may be carried out ina variety of way. The service provider might, for example, automaticallycreate the SIOM by transforming the name of the subscriber, which isstored in the provider database, into a spoken message. This can be doneby using already available software which reads a text and outputssounds corresponding to the letters, syllables or words which form thetext.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a calling subscriber creates anOutgoing Information Service Message (hereinafter, briefly, OISM) whichcontains useful information to be transmitted to any receivingsubscriber, provided that the receiving subscriber is equipped with anapparatus as described in anyone of the embodiments in this application,provided that the receiving subscriber has enabled in his telephone theoption to receive a OISM and provided that he is subscribed to at leastone OISM.

A calling subscriber who creates an OISM might be, for example, acompany which transmits to its subscribers news, financial informationor any other useful information. Another, out of many possible examplesof calling subscriber who create an OISM, might be the service provideritself. The provider might, for example, send every two hours to thereceiving subscriber all the messages left for him and stored in thetelephone exchange.

An OISM is recorded and sent using the same procedure described for aSIOM but, unlike a SIOM, after the OISM is sent the telephone exchangedoes not place in communication the receiving subscriber with thecalling subscriber even if the hookup procedure takes place. In otherwords, the OISM does not precede a telephone call and is not followed bya telephone call associated to it, but has an autonomous function.

In a fifth embodiment of the invention an add-on device is plugged tothe telephone through its output bus. Said add-on device contains thecomponents which are missing in the specific model of telephone to whichit is added and that are necessary in order to create and send a CCM,ICS, SIOM and OISM as described in the previous embodiments. Saidcomponents might be the boosted loudspeaker, the microprocessorregulating the actions of the system, means causing the activation anddisactivation of the ring loudspeaker, earphone loudspeaker and theboosted loudspeaker, according to the need and the required order, orany other component necessary in order to create and send a CCM, ICS,SIOM and OISM as described in the previous embodiments.

The add-on may be implemented in a variety of ways as long as itcontains all the elements and/or components which that enable the add-ondevice combined to the telephone apparatus to which it is plugged tocreate and send a CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM as described in the previousembodiments.

One particular instance of this embodiment is represented by ahands-free set modified to function as the add-on device. The term“hands-free set” in this application means any device which, inconjunction with a cellular phone, a radio phone or a regular phone,enable the user to hold a conversation without having to hold telephonein his hand in the course of the conversation. By “hands-free set” wealso refer, specifically but not exclusively, to hands-free car cellularunits and hands-free sets for cellular carphones which are designed toenable a hands-free conversation in a car. To this end, a controller isadded to the hands-free set. Such controller, among other things, causesthe switching between the hands-free set's loudspeaker which, in thisparticular embodiment functions as boosted loudspeaker, the telephoneear loudspeaker and the ring loudspeaker.

In a sixth embodiment of the invention, the Built-in IdentificationSystem (hereinafter, briefly, BIIS), the function performed in thesystem by the telephone exchange memory cells is replaced by thefunction performed by an electronic component in which audible messagescan be recorded, stored and retrieved at will, added to the telephoneapparatus. In this case, CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM are recorded and storeddirectly into the memory of the electronic component which basically isa microprocessor. In this embodiment, like in the other ones describedin the application, the telephone's controller is programmed to switchbetween ear loudspeaker, boosted loudspeaker and ring loudspeaker,according to the case.

In all embodiments of the invention, the various operations andfunctions required or provided by the invention, e.g. the communicationsbetween the telephone and the exchange or exchanges and/or the switchingbetween components of the telephone apparatus itself, are controlled bya control which is generally embodied in microprocessor means. Telephoneapparatus and, of course, telephone exchanges, are generally providedwith a microprocessor component, which need only to be programmed asrequired by the particular embodiment of the invention. If such amicroprocessor were lacking, it could be easily supplied.

It must be noted that calling subscribers, the telephone of whom areequipped and programmed to carry out an embodiment of the invention cancommunicate with receiving subscribers, the telephone of whom areequipped and programmed to carry out another embodiment of theinvention, and vice versa, viz. telephones working according todifferent embodiments of the invention are compatible.

The expression “customized message”, whenever used herein withoutfurther specification, includes CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM.

The method according to the invention comprises therefore the followingsteps:

1. Method for improving the calling procedure of telephones, whichcomprises the steps of:

I—creating for each telephone a customized message by:

registering said message or messages in one or more sections of memorymeans chosen from among that constituted by the memory cell assigned tosaid telephone in the telephone exchange, that constituted by additionalmemory means coupled to the telephone, and that constituted partly bysaid memory cell and partly by additional memory means coupled to thetelephone;

II—providing boosted loudspeaker means in said telephone;

III—when said telephone is switched on, but is not in communication withanother telephone, causing the ring loudspeaker, if any, and theearphone loudspeaker to be disactivated, and the boosted loudspeaker tobe activated;

IV—when a caller telephone dials the number of said telephone, for it tobecome a receiver, activating the boosted loudspeaker and retrievingfrom said memory means the chosen aforesaid customized message andoptionally other messages registered for said receiver;

V—when the hookup procedure is performed, disactivating the boostedloudspeaker, if not already disactivated, and activating the earphoneloudspeaker; and

VI—placing the caller telephone in communication with said receiver inthe normal way.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the customized call is chosen among:a—messages formulated by the receiving subscriber and identifying thesame (Customized Call Message—CCM), b—messages formulated by thereceiving subscriber and identifying one or more specific known callingsubscribers (Identified Calling Signal—ICS), c—self-identifying messagesformulated by the calling subscriber (Self-Identifying OutgoingMessage—SIOM), d—messages formulated by the calling subscriber whichcontain information requested by the receiving subscriber (OutgoingInformation Service Message—OISM).

When the memory means is consituted entirely by the memory cell assignedto said telephone in the telephone exchange, the method according to theinvention comprises the steps of:

a—calling from said telephone the telephone exchange through apredetermined code;

b—sending to a telephone exchange at least a desired customized messagechosen among: a—messages formulated by the receiving subscriber andidentifying the same (customized call messages), b—messages formulatedby the receiving subscriber and identifying one or more specific knowncalling subscribers (identified calling signal), c—self-identifyingmessages formulated by the calling subscriber (self-identifying outgoingmessage), d—messages formulated by the calling subscriber which containinformation requested by the receiving subscriber (Outgoing InformationService Message);

c—registering said message or messages in one or more sections of thememory cell assigned to said telephone;

II—providing boosted loudspeaker means in said telephone.;

III—when said telephone is switched on, but is not in communication withanother telephone, causing the ring loudspeaker, if any, and theearphone loudspeaker to be disactivated, and the boosted loudspeaker tobe activated;

IV—when a caller telephone dials the number of said telephone, for it tobecome a receiver, activating the boosted loudspeaker and sending tothis latter from said telephone exchange the chosen aforesaid customizedmessage and optionally other messages registered for said receiver;

V—when the hookup procedure is performed, disactivating the boostedloudspeaker, if not already disactivated, and activating the earphoneloudspeaker; and

VI—placing the caller telephone in communication with said receiver inthe normal way.

It will be understood that the messages are sent to a telephone exchangeand caused to be recorded therein, as hereinbefore set forth, by thesubscriber who has formulated them.

In an additional embodiment, the memory and control means are in thephone.

The activation of the loudspeakers is effected generally by connectingtheir circuits to a source of power and their disactivation is effectedgenerally by disconnecting their circuits from the source of power.

In a form of the invention, the telephone which creates a customizedcall message is a cellular telephone.

In a preferred form of the invention:

when a calling subscriber dials the receiving subscriber's number, thetelephone exchange sends to this latter a call signal which activatesthe boosted loudspeaker;

then the customized message is sent from the exchange to the receivingsubscriber;

at the end of the customized message, or thereafter at the end of apredetermined period of time, the boosted loudspeaker is disactivatedand the ring loudspeaker is activated; and

when the hookup procedure has been carried out, the ring loudspeaker isdisactivated and the earphone loudspeaker is activated.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises,

in each telephone which comprises an earphone loudspeaker:

A—a boosted loudspeaker, consisting of an additional loudspeaker morepowerful than the earphone loudspeaker or of an additional circuitdriving the earphone loudspeaker with greater power, sufficient toproduce sounds that can be heard in the environment;

B—switch means for connecting a source of power alternatively to atleast said earphone loudspeaker and said boosted loudspeaker;

C—means for controlling the operation of said switch means;

D—means in the said telephone for signalling to the telephone exchangethat said telephone wishes to register a customized message; and

in the telephone exchange:

E—means for placing said telephone, when the same signals that it wishesto register a customized message, in communication with a predeterminedsection of the memory cell assigned to said telephone;

F—means for registering in said memory section the customized messagesent by said telephone; and

G—means for signalling to a receiver telephone that its customizedmessage is about to be transmitted and for transmitting said customizedmessage.

In a preferred form of the invention, the telephone additionallycomprises a ring loudspeaker and the switch means connects the source ofpower alternatively to said boosted loudspeaker, said ring loudspeakerand said earphone loudspeaker.

Preferably, the said telephone is a cellular telephone. In this case,the power required by the boosted loudspeaker can be provided byavailable cellular telephone batteries, as long as it is required forlimited periods of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1a and 1 b schematically illustrate the connection between acaller and a receiver through a telephone exchange and the reception ofa CCM by the receiving subscriber.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the creation of a customized callmessage (CCM), according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3a and 3 b schematically illustrate the response of a receiver toan incoming call, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the creation of an identifiedcalling signal by the receiving subscriber which allows him to recognizethe caller (ICS) according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the creation of a self-identifyingoutgoing message (SIOM) by the calling subscriber which identifies himto other callers according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the built-identification system(BIIS) where the memory storing the different messages is in anelectronic component of the telephone instead that in telephoneexchange, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an add-on device plugged to acellular telephone according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an add-on device implemented in ahandsfree telephone set according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiment 1—Customized Call Message

FIGS. 1a and 1 b schematically illustrates the connection between acaller and a receiver. In the drawing it is assumed that the receiver isa cellular telephone, but this, as it has been said, is not necessary.The caller, 10 is illustrated as a conventional telephone but could be acellular telephone as well. As show in FIG. 1a, the calling subscriber10 dials to the desired receiving subscriber and the dial call reachesthe telephone exchange, schematically indicated at 11. Since the calleris illustrated as a conventional telephone, the dial call is assumed tobe transmitted to a telephone exchange through a conventional wire line.Still, it must be stressed that the invention and all the embodimentsdescribed in this application are applicable to wireless and radiotelephone systems as well. At this point, a customized call message(CCM) previously recorded by the receiving subscriber, as hereinafterexplained, is sent by the telephone exchange to the receivingsubscriber, as indicated at 14. Now the boosted loudspeaker 17 of thethe receiver phone is activated and the CCM is heard through saidloudspeaker. So far, there is no direct connection between the callerand the receiver, as schematically indicated by a switch 12 in thetelephone exchange, which is shown as open.

At this stage, the receiver phone 13 is switched on as shown by a light18, but a hookup procedure has not been performed yet. When thereceiving subscriber hears the CCM, he performs the hookup procedure, asshown in FIG. 1b by lifting the cover or by other means, resulting inthe receiver's being ready to receive the incoming call, as is shown at13′. At this point the boosted loudspeaker is disactivated and theearphone loudspeaker is activated. Then the telephone exchange placesthe receiving subscriber in communication with the calling subscriber,as symbolically indicated in FIG. 1b by the closure of switch 12 as at12′, and the conversation between caller and receiver can take place 16.This hookup procedure is common to all the embodiments of the inventionand therefore will not be described again.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the creation of a customized callmessage or the substitution of an old customized call message with a newone. The telephone exchange 11, only symbolically indicated, is shown ascomprising a memory cell, indicated at 20, for each subscriber, whichmemory cell is comprised of various sections like the indicated one 21,in each of which a message can be registered. One of them is shown ashaving the number of the subscriber's telephone registered therein. Onecell, indicated as 22, is left free for registering a customized callmessage and one such possible message is marked on the drawing. Thetelephone, which is assumed in this schematic illustration to be thecellular telephone receiver 13 of FIG. 1a, dials a code, which, as hasbeen said, can be constituted by a number or by the result of actuatinga single key or a combination of keys. The call reaches the exchange, assymbolically indicated at 23, and is transferred to the memory section22, which could be empty or contain a previously registered, customizedcall message. Telephone 13 then transmits the customized call messagewhich it wishes to register, and this is registered in memory section22. If an older customized call message was present, it is canceled andsubstituted by the new one, in an overwrite operation.

FIGS. 3a and 3 b schematically illustrate how the communication betweena caller and a receiver is established, when the receiver is providedwith a customized call message. A power source (PS) 30, which, in thecase of a cellular phone will be a battery and in other case may be aconnection to a power line, can be connected to three circuits, that ofthe ring loudspeaker (RC) 31, that of the earphone loudspeaker (lowpower circuit LP) 32, and that of the boosted loudspeaker (callingmessage circuit CMC or high power circuit HP) 33.

In this embodiment, the boosted loudspeaker may consist of the earphoneloudspeaker, driven by a circuit which delivers a greater power than thenormal circuit, so that the sounds emitted by the loudspeaker can beheard in the environment without placing the receiver next to thesubscriber's ear, or may be a separate loudspeaker. A switch 34 permitsto connect the power source to any one of the said three circuits. InFIG. 3a, switch 34 is shown in position zero, viz. is open.

FIG. 3b schematically illustrates the calling procedure when thereceiver has a customized call message registered in the telephoneexchange. Position 1 on the time axis indicates the moment in which thecall signal (CS) is sent from the exchange. This signal generally ismerely a pulse of a certain frequency. When it is received by thereceiver, which is assumed to be switched on. switch 34 shifts toposition 1 and connects power source 30 to the boosted loudspeakercircuit 33. Then the customized call message (CCM) is sent from theexchange and is heard in the vicinity of the receiver from the boostedloudspeaker. At the end of the message, position 2 on the time axis isreached. At this point, switch 34 shifts to position 2 and connectspower source 30 to the ring loudspeaker circuit 33. Since the durationof the message is predetermined and is short, the power consumed by theboosted loudspeaker is limited and can be supplied by a cellular phonebattery for a considerable length of time. From position 2, the ringloudspeaker operates until the hookup procedure is carried out atposition 3. Said procedure causes switch 34 to shift to position 3 andconnect power source 30 to the earphone loudspeaker circuit 32.Thereafter the conversation between caller and receiver is carried outin the normal way. If the receiving subscriber responds promptly to thecustomized call message and carries out the hookup procedure beforeposition 2 on the time axis is reached, switch 34 will shift directlyfrom position 1 to position 3 and the ring loudspeaker will not beactuated.

Embodiment 2—Identified Calling Signal

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the receiving subscriber using histelephone 13 , which in the illustration is a cellular one but may be ofany other kind, to dial a code that gives him access to a dedicatedsegment of the memory cell of the telephone exchange 41. This segmentstores a number of records which comprise at least two elements: (a).the telephone number of the calling subscriber to be recognized (b). anaudible message, preferably but not necessarily a spoken one.

The receiving subscriber inputs 42 into the segment the record elements(a) and (b) or additional ones as needed, following a procedurepredetermined by a computer program resident into the telephoneexchange. Once the procedure is completed a correspondence is createdbetween (a) and (b). A given record may be partially edited or entirelyreplaced by another one in overwrite mode, depending on the computerprogram resident into the telephone exchange. When a calling subscriber43 wishes to communicate with the receiving subscriber 13 the callingsubscriber's dial signal 44 is sent to the telephone exchange as ithappens for every call. If the telephone of the receiving subscriber isequipped with the apparatus, means and method necessary for creating aCCM as described in embodiment 1 of this application, the boostedloudspeaker 17 is switched on, provided that the receiving subscriberhas enabled this option. Than, the receiving subscriber's CCM stored in22 is transmitted by the telephone exchange to the receiver and it isheard through the boosted loudspeaker 17. Depending on the option chosenby the receiving subscriber, the CCM may be replaced after a laps oftime predetermined by him, with the normal ring. In this case, theboosted loudspeaker is disactivated and the ring loudspeaker is switchedon.

If the telephone number corresponding to the calling subscriber's dialsignal is registered in one of the records of the receiving subscriber'smemory cell, as, e.g. in 41, the audible message associated with saidnumber is transmitted to the receiving subscriber and heard through theboosted loudspeaker. If the ring loudspeaker is on, it will bedisactivated while the boosted loudspeaker will be switched on.

Then, the Identified Calling Signal (ICS) is heard through the boostedloudspeake. After a length of time determined by the receivingsubscriber, the boosted loudspeaker may be switched to the normal ringloudspeaker in order to save power if the receiver in question is acellular phone drawing his power from a battery.

Then the telephone exchange places the calling subscriber and receivingsubscriber in communication, as described in embodiment 1, after thereceiving subscriber has performed the hookup procedure by lifting thereceiver or by lifting the telephone cover, depending on the type oftelephone being used.

Embodiment 3—Self-Identifying Outgoing Message

FIG. 5 schematically shows the calling subscriber using his telephone51, which in the illustration is a cellular one but may be of any otherkind, to dial a code that gives him access to a dedicated segment 52 ofthe memory cell 20 of the telephone exchange 11 by which he is serviced.The memory cell 20 in FIG. 5 is shown as already storing CCM 22 and ICS41 described in embodiment 1 and embodiment 2.

FIG. 5 shows the calling subscriber as already having input 53 intosegment 52 and additional record using a recording procedure similar tothat described embodiment 1 and embodiment 2. This record, defined asSelf-Identifying Outgoing Message (SIOM), serves the purpose ofidentifying the calling subscriber to a receiving subscriber, providedthat the latter is equipped with the same apparatus means and methodsdescribed in one of embodiments 1,2 and 3. The SIOM consists of at leastone audible element, typically but not exclusively a spoken message bythe calling subscriber stating his name.

When a calling subscriber 51 wishes to communicate with the receivingsubscriber 54, the calling subscriber's dial signal 55 is sent to thetelephone exchange as it happens for every call. If a SIOM associatedwith said dial signal is stored in the memory cell, the telephoneexchange servicing the calling subscriber retrieves the SIOM from thememory segment 52 in which it is stored and transmits it to thetelephone exchange 11′ of the receiving subscriber 54. In FIG. 5 the twotelephone exchanges are shown as being two separate ones (11 and 11′)but it is irrelevant in this invention whether indeed it is so orwhether the calling subscriber and the receiving subscriber are servicedby the same telephone exchange.

If the telephone of the receiving subscriber 54 is equipped with theapparatus, means and method described in one of embodiments 1,2 and 3,the CCM of the receiving subscriber is transmitted by his telephoneexchange 11′ to the receiver and it is heard through the boostedloudspeaker (17′) provided that the receiving subscriber has enabledthis option. Then, if the calling subscriber has been previouslyidentified by the receiving subscriber by means of ICS, the IdentifiedCalling Signal will be sent to the receiving subscriber by his telephoneexchange 11′ and heard through the boosted loudspeaker 17′.

Then, the calling subscriber telephone exchange 11 will transmit to thereceiving subscriber telephone exchange 11′ the SIOM which will be heardtrough the boosted loudspeaker 17′.

If the receiver is a cellular phone drawing his power from a battery,after a lapse of time predetermined by the receiving subscriber theboosted loudspeaker may be switched off and the ring loudspeaker may beactivated in order to save power.

Then the telephone exchange places the calling subscriber and receivingsubscriber in communication, as described in embodiment 1, after thelatter has performed the hookup procedure by lifting the receiver or bylifting the telephone cover, depending on the type of telephone beingused.

As mentioned before in this application, a variation of this embodimentis represented by the Outgoing Information Service Message (OISM). Froma functional point of view, the description of the SIOM applies also tothe OISM while the two embodiments differ only in the content andpurpose of the message being recorded and transmitted.

Embodiment 4—Outgoing Information Service message

The OISM is recorded and sent in the same manner of the SIOM, andtherefore is not separately illustrated. The OISM represents a limitedversion of the SIOM, in that it is not preceded or followed by atelephone call associated to it, but has an autonomous function.

Embodiment 5—Add-On Device

FIG. 7a schematically shows an add-on device 71 that is plugged to thetelephone 72 through the telephone's output bus 73. Said add-on devicecontains the components that are missing in the specific model oftelephone to which it is to be added, and which are necessary in orderto create and send a CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM as described in theprevious embodiments. Said components may be the boosted loudspeaker,the microprocessor regulating the actions of the system, means causingthe activation and disactivation of the ring loudspeaker, the earphoneloudspeaker or the boosted loudspeaker, or any other component necessaryin order to create and send a CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM as described inthe previous embodiments.

FIG. 7b shows a back view of the add-on device after it has been pluggedto the telephone apparatus which, in this specific example, is acellular phone, but can be of any other kind as long as it has an outputbus or another outlet to which the add-on device can be plugged.

FIG. 7c shows a front view of the same plugged add-on device, after ithas been plugged to the telephone apparatus.

The add-on may be implemented in a variety of ways as long as itcontains all the elements and/or components which that enable the add-ondevice, combined to the telephone apparatus to which it is plugged, tocreate and send a CCM, ICS, SIOM and OISM as described in the previousembodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a variation of this embodiment represented by a hands-freeset modified to function as the add-on device. The term “hands-free set”in this application means any device which, in conjunction with acellular phone, a radio phone or a regular phone, enables the user tohold a conversation without having to hold telephone in his hand in thecourse of the conversation. By “hands-free set” we also refer,specifically but not exclusively, to hands-free car cellular units andhands-free sets for cellular earphones which are designed to enable ahands-free conversation in a car.

In FIG. 8, a hands-free set 81 is shown plugged to a cellular phone 82.The addition of the controller 83 to the hands-free set, turns thelatter into an add-on device which fits the description of thisembodiment. Such a controller, among other things, is programmed tocause the switching between the hands-free set's ring loudspeaker andthe hands-free set's loudspeaker 84 which, in this particularembodiment, functions as boosted loudspeaker.

Embodiment 6—Built-in Identification System

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a variation of embodiments 1—5 whichmay be carried out by adding to the receiver 61 an electronic component62 capable of storing audible messages and by programming the receiver'scontroller in such a way that:

(a) The registration and reception of audible call messages and morespecifically, but not exclusively, CCM 22, ICS 41, SIOM 52 and OISM 63,is enabled.

(b) When an incoming call signal is received by the receiving subscriberfrom the telephone exchange 11, electronic component 62 is activated andCCM and/or ICS, can be retrieved from the component and heard throughthe boosted loudspeaker after it has been switched on; further, if thecaller has registered and stored in

the telephone exchange 11 a SIOM and/or an OISM, said message are sentto the receiving subscriber by the exchange and can be heard after theboosted loudspeaker has been switched on.

(c) When an telephone owner is calling another subscriber, SIOM and OISMcan be retrieved from electronic component 62 and transmitted to anothersubscriber.

In embodiment 6, electronic component 62 replaces the telephone exchangememory cell described in embodiments 1-5, but otherwise all methodsremain as described in the previous embodiments.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described for thepurpose of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may becarried into practice by skilled persons with many modifications,variations and adaptations, without departing from its spirit orexceeding the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for improving the calling procedure of acellular telephone connected to a telephone exchange having a memorycell assigned to said cellular telephone, said cellular telephone havingan earphone loudspeaker, a ring loudspeaker and means for performing astandard hook-up procedure, whereby said cellular telephone is placed incommunication with calling telephones through said telephone exchange,said method comprising: creating at least one customized message forsaid cellular telephone by registering said customized message in memorymeans; providing a boosted loudspeaker in said cellular telephone;activating said boosted loudspeaker and deactivating said earphoneloudspeaker and said ring loudspeaker when said cellular telephone isswitched on but is not in communication with another telephone;activating said boosted loudspeaker and retrieving said at least onecustomized message when said cellular telephone receives an incomingcall, and sounding said retrieved at least one customized messagethrough said boosted loudspeaker; performing said standard hook-upprocedure while deactivating said boosted loudspeaker if said boostedloudspeaker is not already deactivated, and activating said earphoneloudspeaker; and placing said incoming call in communication with saidcellular telephone through said telephone exchange.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, whereby said at least one customized message isregistered in a portion of said memory means comprising said memorycell.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereby said at least onecustomized message is registered in a portion of said memory meanscomprising an additional memory means coupled to said cellulartelephone.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereby said at least onecustomized message is registered in a portion of said memory meanscomprising a combination of said memory cell and additional memory meanscoupled to said cellular telephone.
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein said at least one customized message is selected from the groupconsisting of: a customized call message formulated by a user of saidcellular telephone that identifies said user; an identified callingsignal message formulated by said user that identifies one or more knownpossible callers; a self-identifying outgoing message formulated bypossible callers; and an outgoing information service message formulatedby said possible callers that contain information for said user.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein said memory means further comprisessaid memory cell assigned to said cellular telephone in said telephoneexchange and additional memory means coupled to said cellular telephone,and wherein said cellular telephone further comprises an electroniccomponent capable of storing audible messages, said method furthercomprising the following steps: activating said boosted loudspeaker andsaid electronic component when an incoming call signal is received bysaid cellular telephone; retrieving said at least one customized messagefrom said additional memory means if said at least one customizedmessage comprises said customized call message and/or said identifiedcalling signal message, placing said at least one customized message insaid electronic component, and sounding said at least one customizedmessage through said boosted loudspeaker; sending said self-identifyingoutgoing message or said outgoing information service message to saidcellular telephone from said telephone exchange and sounding saidself-identifying outgoing message or said outgoing information servicemessage through said boosted loudspeaker; and retrieving saidself-identifying outgoing message or said outgoing information servicemessage from said electronic component and transmitting to anothertelephone if said user of said cellular telephone is calling saidanother telephone.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said atleast one customized message comprises said customized call message andis formulated and recorded by said user of said cellular telephone. 8.The method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one customizedmessage comprises said identified calling signal message and isformulated and recorded by said user of said cellular telephone.
 9. Themethod according to claim 5, wherein said at least one customizedmessage comprises said self-identifying outgoing message or saidoutgoing information service message and is formulated and recorded by aparty calling said user of said cellular telephone.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises said memorycell assigned to said cellular telephone, and said creating of said atleast one customized message further comprises the steps of: callingsaid telephone exchange from said cellular telephone by means of apredetermined code; sending said at least one customized message to saidtelephone exchange; and registering said at least one customized messagein one or more sections of said memory cell assigned to Said cellulartelephone.
 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising thesteps of: sending a call signal from said telephone exchange to saidcellular telephone when a caller dials said cellular telephone, therebyactivating said boosted loudspeaker; sending a customized call messagefrom said telephone exchange to said cellular telephone; deactivatingsaid boosted loudspeaker and activating said ring loudspeaker at the endof said customized call message or after a predetermined period of time;and deactivating said ring loudspeaker and activating said earphoneloudspeaker after said standard hook-up procedure is finished.
 12. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said earphone loudspeaker, saidring loudspeaker and said boosted loudspeaker are activated byconnecting said earphone loudspeaker, said ring loudspeaker and saidboosted loudspeaker to a source of power, and are deactivated bydisconnecting said earphone loudspeaker, said ring loudspeaker and saidboosted loudspeaker from said source of power.
 13. Apparatus forimproving a calling procedure of a cellular telephone having an earphoneloudspeaker, connected to a telephone exchange with a memory cellassigned to said cellular telephone, said apparatus comprising: aboosted loudspeaker sufficiently powered to produce sounds in anenvironment adjacent to said cellular telephone; switch means forconnecting a source of power alternatively to at least said earphoneloudspeaker and said boosted loudspeaker; means for controlling saidswitch means; means for signaling said telephone exchange that saidcellular telephone is preparing to register a customized message; saidtelephone exchange including means for placing said cellular telephonein communication with said memory cell when said cellular telephoneactivates said means for signaling, means for registering saidcustomized message in said memory cell, and means for transmitting saidcustomized message.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, whereinsaid boosted loudspeaker comprises an additional loudspeaker morepowerful than said earphone loudspeaker.
 15. The apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said switch means connects said source of powersuccessively to said boosted loudspeaker, a ring loudspeaker, and saidearphone loudspeaker.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 13, whereinsaid boosted loudspeaker comprises an additional circuit driving saidearphone loudspeaker with greater power.
 17. The apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said apparatus comprises an external add-on devicethat is coupled to said cellular telephone through an output bus.
 18. Acellular telephone with improved calling procedures, provided with aring loudspeaker and an earphone loudspeaker and located in anenvironment, comprising: a boosted loudspeaker, sufficiently powered soas to produce sounds that can be heard in said environment of saidcellular telephone; switch means for connecting a source of powersuccessively to said boosted loudspeaker, said ring loudspeaker and saidearphone loudspeaker; means for controlling operation of said switchmeans; memory means; means for registering at least one customizedmessage in said memory means; means for accessing said memory means whena call signal is sent or received, in order to retrieve said at leastone customized message; and means for sounding said at least onecustomized message through said boosted loudspeaker.
 19. The cellulartelephone according to claim 18, wherein said boosted loudspeakercomprises an additional loudspeaker more powerful than said earphoneloudspeaker.
 20. The cellular telephone according to claim 18, whereinsaid boosted loudspeaker comprises an additional circuit driving saidearphone loudspeaker with greater power.